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KOSPI Falls Below 5,600 Amid Quadruple Witching Day and Rising Oil Prices
Domestic Stock Market Declines Amid Intensified Volatility
The KOSPI has ended its two-day gaining streak, falling below the 5,600-point mark. On the 12th, the market opened down 0.42% from the previous trading day at 5,567.65 points, but after a brief upward turnaround early in the session, it fell again, fluctuating around the 5,560-point level. Meanwhile, the KOSDAQ index started down 0.42% at 1,132 points and is currently trading around unchanged levels. In the securities market, foreign and institutional investors continued their selling spree, while individual investors stepped in to buy, preventing further declines.
Impact of Rising International Oil Prices and 'Quadruple Witching Day'
Despite the International Energy Agency (IEA) deciding to release 400 million barrels of strategic reserves, international oil prices rose due to concerns about supply disruptions from the potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, negatively impacting the overall domestic stock market. Furthermore, the arrival of 'Quadruple Witching Day,' when stock index futures and options, and individual stock futures and options expire simultaneously, is analyzed to have further amplified market volatility. Overnight, the New York stock market also showed mixed movements amid tensions surrounding the Iran War.
Leading Semiconductor Stocks Fall, Exchange Rate Unstable
Leading domestic semiconductor stocks uniformly fell. Samsung Electronics traded down 1.26% at 187,600 won, and SK Hynix recorded 943,000 won. Meanwhile, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,480.1 won, up 13.6 won from the previous trading day, and is currently trading in the 1,470 won range, continuing its unstable trend.
*Source: YouTube: Yonhap News TV (2026-03-12)*
